From the architect. Höllviken south of Malmö is originally a seaside summer resort. A young couple wanted to build a house on a traditional summer house lot that had to be very modern, and at the same time suitable for a flexible family life.

The most economical solution considering the planning regulations of the area is the traditional 1,5-story house most common in the south of Sweden. This strategy would also enable us to save some of the trees and vegetation on the site.

From a designers point of view this building type is a challenge. A traditional saddle roof is to be combined with a held-back modern design. This leads to challenges around the roof edges. Large glazed sliding doors and crisp dormers require steel reinforcements within the timber frame. A goal in the design process was to create a prismatic form, a play of volumes without any unnecessary leaps or edges.

The design dissolves the traditional 1,5-story bottom level plan and opens up the structure both over the corners and up through the first floor. Lines-of-sight penetrate the house and the window positions work to frame the scenery on the outside.